Why NCQA Accreditation?

Why NCQA Accreditation?

Health plans operate in a highly competitive environment, often vying for business with local, regional and national firms. NCQA Accreditation helps health plans demonstrate their commitment to quality and accountability and provides extraordinary benefits in today’s market.


NCQA’s Health Plan Accreditation is considered the industry’s gold standard.



The standardized survey process for plans of all types is constantly fine-tuned to keep pace with the changing health care environment. Developed with the input and support of health plans, providers, purchasers, unions and consumer groups, NCQA standards are demanding and encourage continuous enhancement of a plan’s quality and value.

Meeting Employer Demands

Many employers—especially those in the Fortune 500—demand NCQA Accreditation as a condition of doing business. They want to maximize value, performance and transparency in their health care plan investment for their shareholders and for their employees and families. The National Business Coalition on Health’s widely used eValue8™ Request for Information tool is closely aligned with NCQA Accreditation. Accredited plans score extremely well.

Meeting Regulator Demands

Federal and state regulators have used NCQA Accreditation standards as models for their own requirements. Forty states recognize NCQA Accreditation as meeting some or all of their requirements through deeming; a dozen of these mandate it. Medicare and Medicaid recognize NCQA Accreditation through deeming; the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program requires accreditation.

Meeting Consumer Demands

Consumers have begun to comparison shop, considering their health plan options and learning how well plans in their area perform. The NCQA Health Plan Report Card has results on hundreds of health plans, enabling consumers to make better and more informed decisions.


Report Cards

View Report Cards for all NCQA Accreditation, Certification and Recognition programs.


© Copyright 2011, NCQA. All Rights Reserved.
National Committee for Quality Assurance     1100 13th Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005
Telephone: 202/955-3500 | Fax: 202/955-3599 | Customer Support: 888/275-7585